Estevao Dazzles as Chelsea Overpower Barcelona in Champions League Clash
LONDON – Chelsea delivered a dominant performance, crushing barcelona 3-0 in a Champions League match that saw 18-year-old Estevao shine, drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi and eclipsing his opposite number, lamine yamal. The victory marks arguably Chelsea’s best showing as the Club World Cup final.
The blueprint for Chelsea’s success was evident early on, with Enzo Fernandez repeatedly exploiting barcelona’s high defensive line with pinpoint passes over the top.Barcelona’s early attacking threat, highlighted by a missed opportunity from Ferran Torres, proved fleeting. Chelsea continued to create chances, with Enzo Fernandez having two first-half goals disallowed – one for a Wesley Fofana handball and another for offside – and Pedro Neto squandering a clear opening.
Chelsea’s breakthrough arrived when barcelona faltered on a short corner, allowing a low cross from Cucurella to find Neto, whose shot was inadvertently turned into his own net by Jules Kounde. Moments before halftime,Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo received a second yellow card for a foul on Cucurella and was sent off.
Estevao extended Chelsea’s lead midway through the second half, followed by a goal from substitute Liam Delap to complete the rout.
Both estevao and Yamal were substituted late in the game, with Estevao departing to a standing ovation after a performance that evoked memories of Messi. The match was widely seen as a victory for estevao in the battle of the two highly-rated 18-year-olds.
